Paul Peck is a
civil servant who
donated more than $2 million to the
Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery. According to Smithsonian officials , it was the largest single donation in the gallery's history.
Peck, employed as a
computer systems manager at the
U.S. Customs Service requested that his donation finance a
multimedia program at the
National Portrait Gallery to focus on the
American presidency as an adjunct to the gallery's
Hall of Presidents.
Peck acquired his fortune through
IT consulting, shrewd
real estate investments and providing
financial planning services to others.
Peck's gift is intended to support
maintenance as well as improvements to the gallery and its
collections.